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NORTH ALLEGHENY VARSITY/JV
GIRLS' BASKETBALL

Photo Courtesy Jeff Gleason

BRENNAN NAMED TO ALL-STATE TEAM

Senior guard Kelly Brennan has received some post-season recognition as she was named to the Quad-A girls' basketball all-state team.  The Pennsylvania Sports Writers chose Brennan as a third-team selection.  In all, six WPIAL players were named to the all-state team with Mt. Lebanon’s Madison Cable winning Player of the Year.  Brennan, who scored her 1,000^th career point against Shaler on January 4, led the Lady Tigers in scoring by averaging 16 points per game.  The 5’8 guard also led NA in assists and free-throw shooting.  Brennan will continue her basketball career next year at Seton Hill University.    

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BLACKHAWKS SMOTHER LADY TIGERS, 58-46

Friday night at Baldwin, the North Allegheny girls’ playoff run came to an abrupt end at the hands of the Bethel Park Lady Hawks, 58-46.  With the win, Bethel Park advanced to the semifinals of the WPIAL playoffs, where they will face Shaler.  Kelly Brennan and Alexis Aiken led the Tigers with 11 points each, on a night when North Allegheny struggled to get anything going offensively.  However, to get their eleven points, they shot 4-16 and 5-13, respectively.  Aiken added six rebounds and a pair of assists, earning Wright Automotive Player of the Game honors.  Overall, the Tigers shot just 30%, sinking just 3 of 17 from beyond the three point line. 

On the defensive side of the ball, North Allegheny had little answer for Hawks forward Megan Marecic.  Just a freshman, Marecic led all scorers with 24 points.  Akron recruit Candace Martino struggled from the field, scoring just eight points before leaving with an apparently leg injury.  In her absence, Laurel Miller contributed 16 points, most of which coming during the second half.

In the early going, the game had a frantic pace, as both teams traded layups and free throws.  At the end of the first quarter, Bethel Park grabbed a slight 12-9 lead.  The game appeared similar to the tight affair played at the North Allegheny Holiday Tournament.  In the second quarter, the Bethel Park defense clamped down, rushing, contesting, or altering any North Allegheny shot attempt.  The Hawks were also tenacious on the boards, doubling the Tigers’ first-half output rebounding the basketball. 

Faced with a 25-14 halftime deficit, North Allegheny needed another strong second half run, similar to the one from the week before against Hempfield.  Following halftime, Bethel Park extended their lead to fifteen and North Allegheny Coach Sherri McConnell immediately called timeout.  A three pointer from Zoe Calabrese and two free throws from Jessica Mancosh pulled the game to 31-21, and there was a feeling North Allegheny had revived its offense.  Unfortunately for the Tigers, the ten-point margin was as close as they would get in the second half.  The Hawks responded with a 7-0 run, pushing their lead to 17, and thwarting any attempt at another North Allegheny comeback. 

The loss drops North Allegheny to 20-4, and in all likelihood will end their season.  Each of the participants in the semifinals will qualify for states.  There will also be a fifth qualifier for the state playoffs, based on the WPIAL champion’s path to the title.  As a result, there is an outside shot that the North Allegheny girls qualify for the state playoffs, but Bethel Park must win the WPIAL title for the Lady Tigers to do so.  This season marked the first playoff win for the girls under Coach McConnell, giving them quality experience and hope to build on for next year. 

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WPIAL GIRLS' BASKETBALL - 2010-11

The Lady Tigers will compete again in the WPIAL in Class AAAA along with 27 other teams.  The top four teams in each section will enter the WPIAL Basketball Tournament scheduled to begin on February 18, 2011.  All playoff entries will be determined by section record only and will be determined by the best section won-loss record.  Teams that tie for first place will not have the tie broken and ALL tied teams will be declared section champions, will receive a section winner's plaque, and will be entered into the WPIAL tournament.  If four or more teams tie for first place, only those teams will qualify for post-season play.

In the event of a multiple tie (tow or more teams) for a playoff position, head-to-head competition will be the first determinant.  If head-to-head does not break the tie, the following tie-breaking system will be used.  If three or more teams are tied for third place and the tie-breaking system identifies one team as the third place team, the remaining teams will then be tied for fourth place and the process begins all over with head-to-head competition being the first determinant for establishing the fourth place team.  If a tie cannot be broken, all tied teams will enter the playoffs.

TIE-BREAKER SYSTEM

1.  Section won-loss records of the tied teams will be compiled.
2.  The team(s) with the best numerical head-to-head section record among the tied teams will enter post-season play.
3.  If the tie cannot be broken, all tied teams will enter post-season play.

Section play must be completed by SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2011.  All teams (qualifying playoff teams or non-qualifying teams) that complete their section schedule by the prescribed date may play exhibition games provided they do not exceed their limit of 22 competitions.  No play-off qualifying team may play a game after Monday, February 14, 2011.  Teams that qualify for the WPIAL playoffs may scrimmage any other team that has qualified for post-season play beginning on Tuesday, February 15, 2011. 

In Quad A, five teams will qualify for the PIAA tournament.  PIAA bracket placement will be determined by a "Follow the Winner basis.

WPIAL GIRLS' BASKETBALL ALIGNMENT
CLASS AAAA - 28 TEAMS

Any questions or comments should be directed to Athletic Director
Bob Bozzuto at:  bbozzuto@northallegheny.org